If you have on going medical issues that require prescription medications which must be renewed, it usually works best to return to the same doctor once a year in order to get that done. Most doctors will not write new prescriptions for medications based upon a diagnosis by some other doctor that they do not know. In order to do that they usually want to run all of the same tests and diagnostic measures that were run by the last doctor.

If all that you need is a physical or some temporary medication for an illness, then one of the emergency service clinics where they accept walk in patients should work fine. What we have done for the past 11 years is to just use one of the "doc in a box" clinics if ill, and once a year we visit our long term doctor.

I am on tricare and i'm a heart patient.I go back once a year for my checkups and prescriptions.
If I or the wife need care we use an emergency room and then notify our doctor(primary care provider) right away and we are covered.I had to do this most recently for a kidney stone in cottonwood arizona and can't say enough about the medical center there.

If you use VA like I do, there is a Publication that you can obtain at any VA Hospital that details where every VA Treatment Center is located in this Country. It also includes, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.

For VA you could also go on VA.gov and get updated information on where the clinics, hospitals and stuff if for the VA. Make sure you get a copy of your medical records whether you are VA or not from any doctors you go to. Keep an updated copy with you at all times just in case you have a bad emergency and they need back information. I know it is very easy with the VA to keep an updated copy with you as now they offer the records on DVD. That is all notes, tests, MRI's, Xrays well you get the idea.
Once a year we fill out the form and within a few weeks we have the updated copy. They all used to send a HUGE package with everything printed out and with me being in the system for 20+ years I am glad they went the DVD route so that it is easier to keep the "paperwork" all together without losing anything. Another thing to do if you are a vet is to sign up for "MyHealtheVet" thru the va.gov site. They just added the ability for vets to send an email to your doctor without trying to call and be on the phone for who knows how long. The doctor (or the docs nurse) will get back to you quickly. Even if all you need are some meds renewed it is MUCH easier to send an email instead of trying to call, lol.

PyrateSilly wrote:For VA you could also go on VA.gov and get updated information on where the clinics, hospitals and stuff if for the VA. Make sure you get a copy of your medical records whether you are VA or not from any doctors you go to. Keep an updated copy with you at all times just in case you have a bad emergency and they need back information. I know it is very easy with the VA to keep an updated copy with you as now they offer the records on DVD. That is all notes, tests, MRI's, Xrays well you get the idea.
Once a year we fill out the form and within a few weeks we have the updated copy. They all used to send a HUGE package with everything printed out and with me being in the system for 20+ years I am glad they went the DVD route so that it is easier to keep the "paperwork" all together without losing anything. Another thing to do if you are a vet is to sign up for "MyHealtheVet" thru the va.gov site. They just added the ability for vets to send an email to your doctor without trying to call and be on the phone for who knows how long. The doctor (or the docs nurse) will get back to you quickly. Even if all you need are some meds renewed it is MUCH easier to send an email instead of trying to call, lol.

Would not all of that stuff be on their Computer System? If not, they need to upgrade.

PyrateSilly wrote:For VA you could also go on VA.gov and get updated information on where the clinics, hospitals and stuff if for the VA. Make sure you get a copy of your medical records whether you are VA or not from any doctors you go to. Keep an updated copy with you at all times just in case you have a bad emergency and they need back information. I know it is very easy with the VA to keep an updated copy with you as now they offer the records on DVD. That is all notes, tests, MRI's, Xrays well you get the idea.
Once a year we fill out the form and within a few weeks we have the updated copy. They all used to send a HUGE package with everything printed out and with me being in the system for 20+ years I am glad they went the DVD route so that it is easier to keep the "paperwork" all together without losing anything. Another thing to do if you are a vet is to sign up for "MyHealtheVet" thru the va.gov site. They just added the ability for vets to send an email to your doctor without trying to call and be on the phone for who knows how long. The doctor (or the docs nurse) will get back to you quickly. Even if all you need are some meds renewed it is MUCH easier to send an email instead of trying to call, lol.

Would not all of that stuff be on their Computer System? If not, they need to upgrade.

It is all automated now...at least the VA clinics are in areas that I have been stationed.

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